Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
July 8, 2016

The attorney representing murder accused Andre Lord Evil Jackman said he planned to file for dismissal of the charge against his client due to “some level of compromise” of his case by Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite.

In fact, Arthur Holder said he would likely ask that the case be quashed before the trial even begins because “my client can never be guaranteed a fair trial as per the constitution”.

In an address yesterday at the annual general meeting of the Barbados Police Association Brathwaite said it made no sense that Lord Evil was out on bail while Constable Everton Gittens remained on remand for the murder of Selwyn Blues Knight on March 15, last year. Gittens was also charged with wounding Knight’s son Junior with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him, as well as recklessly engaging in conduct which placed Junior Knight in danger of death or serious bodily harm, on the same date.

“If you, for example, can release on bail someone who names himself Lord Evil, I see no reason why you cannot release Constable Gittens on bail,” Brathwaite said.

The Attorney General’s comment got Holder’s immediate attention, and in an interview with Barbados TODAY this morning, he said Brathwaite was out of place and had breached his client’s constitutional right to a fair trial.

“So basically, you will be asking for a dismissal of the charges based on the fact that there has been some level of compromise by the Government’s chief legal advisor. And remember, a jury pool is picked from the public,” an aggrieved Holder said.

Jackman was charged with the murder of Charlie Dume, who was shot and killed on Nelson Street, the City in 2014.

Holder likened the Attorney General’s comment to an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the ability of judges to dispense justice.

“It is an assault and an attack on the judiciary of this country. He is questioning the capacity of the judges in the dispensation of justice in relation to the granting of bail. Perhaps before the Attorney General makes comments of this nature he ought to understand the circumstances surrounding the two distinct cases,” Holder said.

The Attorney General also suffered the wrath of criminal attorney Andrew Pilgrim, QC, who saw yesterday’s comment as an attempt to “meddle” with the courts.

Pilgrim also tied the statement to a disclosure last month by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart that he was “hit for six” when he found out that people on remand for murder here were being granted bail.

“If the Attorney General has made these unfortunate comments, it shows that he is prepared to meddle with what is going on in the courts of this country and that is extremely unfortunate, especially against the background where the Prime Minister was a few weeks ago saying that he was hit for six to learn that people could get bail for murder in this country.

“It is a sad comment on the state of politics in this country when people who are a part of the political directorate do not understand what is going on in terms of the grant or non grant of bail and do not appreciate why they need to be sensitive as to why courts grant or don’t grant bail,” the Queen’s Counsel told Barbados TODAY.

Pilgrim reiterated his position that the authorities needed to examine all the circumstances surrounding the granting of bail, particularly the slow pace at which the wheels of justice turn.

He proposed that bail be given to anyone who could not be given a trial in a reasonable time, whether the offence was shoplifting or murder.

“Now in Barbados, we have shown ourselves to be totally incapable of guaranteeing anyone a trial in a reasonable time whether that is a speeding ticket or whether it is a murder or treason indictment. We are incapable of that. Therefore we need to seriously examine whether or not almost every person who comes before the courts in this country should be admitted to bail,”
Pilgrim said.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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24 thoughts on “Free Lord Evil!”

Richard Braithwaite

Hang on a minute…..what am I missing here…
You telling me in Barbados…if on remand for murder
You can apply for bail ??
What’s going on ?
People are going to dods. for just stealing some
corn beef and mayonnaise !!!
What kind of messages are the judiciary system sending out
in Barbados !!!!
Can somebody please explain …
I’m just a stupid Englishman…
Who loves Barbados and it’s people very much…

Hang on a minute…..what am I missing here…
You telling me in Barbados…if on remand for murder
You can apply for bail ??
What’s going on ?
People are going to dods. for just stealing some
corn beef and mayonnaise !!!
What kind of messages are the judiciary system sending out
in Barbados !!!!
Can somebody please explain …
I’m just a stupid Englishman…
Who loves Barbados and it’s people very much…

Free education has done nothing for our reasoning skills in my opinion the attorney general is simply suggesting that if one is given bail for murder then the other one should be too.
Why are we getting so hot under the collar?It’s nothing to get all hysterical about

It is just because one was admitted to the Mental hospital and the others were not, you can’t play mad and then all of a sudden be sane again, If he did not loose his marbles and get admitted to the Mental, of course bail should be granted, easily.

Free education has done nothing for our reasoning skills in my opinion the attorney general is simply suggesting that if one is given bail for murder then the other one should be too.
Why are we getting so hot under the collar?It’s nothing to get all hysterical about

It is just because one was admitted to the Mental hospital and the others were not, you can’t play mad and then all of a sudden be sane again, If he did not loose his marbles and get admitted to the Mental, of course bail should be granted, easily.

Who is Lord Evil? Is that not an alias that can be applied to any person , Mr Holder as usual you and you silly theatrics,it is amazing how most of you lawyers who are the ones who demand bail for your clients that commit murder are now finding fault with the statements of the attorney general,you speak of your clients constitutional rights being infringed only when it suits your objectives in a system where accused persons can be granted bail for murder and precedents have already been set,how can a man for murder be granted bail for a killing by shooting and be allowed bail and another who has also been remanded for similar circumstances be denied bail? Would you Mr. Holder is this fair under our system of justice? In your efforts to besmirch the actions of the attorney general please remember that your client just like anyone in this country who is accused of committing a serious offence is entitled to a fair trial and further more there are aggrieved families in both instances and they too must be considered, the mere mention of an alias must not be the reason for justice to be thwarted, justice must be served and dispensed at all cost for all parties involved.

Who is Lord Evil? Is that not an alias that can be applied to any person , Mr Holder as usual you and you silly theatrics,it is amazing how most of you lawyers who are the ones who demand bail for your clients that commit murder are now finding fault with the statements of the attorney general,you speak of your clients constitutional rights being infringed only when it suits your objectives in a system where accused persons can be granted bail for murder and precedents have already been set,how can a man for murder be granted bail for a killing by shooting and be allowed bail and another who has also been remanded for similar circumstances be denied bail? Would you Mr. Holder is this fair under our system of justice? In your efforts to besmirch the actions of the attorney general please remember that your client just like anyone in this country who is accused of committing a serious offence is entitled to a fair trial and further more there are aggrieved families in both instances and they too must be considered, the mere mention of an alias must not be the reason for justice to be thwarted, justice must be served and dispensed at all cost for all parties involved.

If it’s outrageous for the AG to say that if Lord Evil is on bail, then PC Gittens should be, it is equally outrageous that Mr Holder should think that Lord Evil should be freed because of that silly utterance! Sounds like someone is clutching at straws and I would feel a lot more comfortable if Mr Holder had said that the facts will bear out his client’s “not guilty” plea.

Thankfully, there is no ‘one size fits all’ justice and cases are to be determined on the specifics presented to the courts – but I’m sure that ALL these learned gentlemen know this. Theatrics!

If it’s outrageous for the AG to say that if Lord Evil is on bail, then PC Gittens should be, it is equally outrageous that Mr Holder should think that Lord Evil should be freed because of that silly utterance! Sounds like someone is clutching at straws and I would feel a lot more comfortable if Mr Holder had said that the facts will bear out his client’s “not guilty” plea.
Thankfully, there is no ‘one size fits all’ justice and cases are to be determined on the specifics presented to the courts – but I’m sure that ALL these learned gentlemen know this. Theatrics!

Put the blame for all this NONSENSE at the feet of the AG.
What he should have said was …if Constable Gittens is in jail for MURDER….then Lord Evil should be in jail too….and that NO ONE should be on bail for Murder…it is as simple as that.

Put the blame for all this NONSENSE at the feet of the AG.
What he should have said was …if Constable Gittens is in jail for MURDER….then Lord Evil should be in jail too….and that NO ONE should be on bail for Murder…it is as simple as that.

Smh what a silly individual for highlighting an ongoing case to prejudice. The AG really did that for real? In real life? If I was alias Lord evil I would push for a dismissal as it is evident he cannot have access to a fair trial.

Smh what a silly individual for highlighting an ongoing case to prejudice. The AG really did that for real? In real life? If I was alias Lord evil I would push for a dismissal as it is evident he cannot have access to a fair trial.
What a plonker!